Private Pleasures

her,' he commented dryly.

She waved her near-empty champagne glass toward her sister. 'I thought Richard was a decent catch, but Mariah's being difficult.'

His jaw dropped, though he told himself he shouldn't have been surprised. 'You set her up?'

She shrugged and drank the last of her champagne.

'Jade, I'm gonna strangle you.'

'Naw,' she said, batting her lashes at him. 'You like me too much.'

Despite Jade's brash ways and smart mouth, he did like her. What she needed, he decided, was a man to soften her up a bit.

Jade placed a hand on his jacketed arm, her expression suddenly sincere. 'Grey, Mariah's crazy about you, I won't lie about that, but if you aren't going to marry her, you need to let her go.'

He couldn't, even though he knew Jade was right. The thought of never seeing Mariah again was tantamount to carving his heart out of his chest.

'I think I'll go meet her new beau.' Flashing Jade a smile, Grey strode confidently toward Mariah.

'Men,' Grey heard Jade mutter behind him.

Mariah turned, and her gaze fell on him as he approached. She looked startled, torn and a little wary.

The reception line had ended, and the guests around Jim and Donna were breaking up to find their seats for dinner. He'd almost reached Mariah when Jim saw him. Grey couldn't very well ignore the guest of honor.

Grey shook the older man's hand while watching out of the corner of his eye as Mr. GQ led Mariah in the opposite direction. Something at her ankle sparkled, rhinestones, and Grey knew a moment of supreme satisfaction.

He'd catch up to her later.

Dinner was announced, and Grey found himself seated next to a young woman with short black hair wearing a dress cut lower than legally should have been deemed decent. She had come on to him the moment he'd sat down, making it very clear she was single, available and very interested in him, despite his subtle hints that he was not. Her foot was continually getting tangled around his, and at one point she'd even pressed her hand high on his thigh and squeezed meaningfully, causing him to choke on his chicken.

As soon as the dessert plates were cleared, Grey politely excused himself, ignoring the woman's disappointed pout. It was time to find Mariah before she left the party with Mr. GQ.

He strolled around for about ten minutes, searching the mingling crowd for a blonde in an eye-catching dress and thigh-high stockings he'd bought specifically for her. That she'd worn them gave him hope.

Dining music was replaced with something more lively and upbeat for dancing. The parquet dance floor filled up fast, and the chandeliers were dimmed in lieu of flashing strobes. Finally, he spotted Mariah and her date standing in a darkened area of the ballroom. A large potted palm with twinkling lights gave them a modicum of privacy, and Mr. GQ was taking advantage of it. The other man was stroking her cheek with his fingers and subtly easing her deeper into the shadows, his head dipping toward hers.

He strode toward them determinedly, his skin heating with jealousy. Cool it, Nichols. As much as you'd like to tighten that bow around Mr. GQ's neck, Mariah wouldn't appreciate the scene.

'Mariah?' Grey said as he neared, causing her date to stiffen and pull away when he would have planted one on Mariah's lips. 'I thought that was you!'

Mariah looked at first startled, then relieved by his interruption. She moved out of the shadows and into the open.

The blond man turned and narrowed his gaze on Grey, obviously irritated by his timely intrusion.

Grey ignored him and gave Mariah a wide grin. 'It's great to see you, Mariah. It seems like forever, doesn't it? I see P.J.'s delivery made it to you just fine,' he added casually, noting that the private exchange was lost on Mr. GQ.

Her gaze widened in shock and mortification, but she managed to recover her composure quickly. 'I, uh, yes, I received it just fine. Thank you.'

'It was all my pleasure.' Literally. He turned to the blonde and thrust out his hand congenially. 'I don't believe we've met before. I'm Grey Nichols, a good friend of Mariah's.'

'Richard Sawyer. Nice to meet you.' Reluctantly he shook Grey's offered hand. Both of their grips were strong, with an undercurrent of silent rivalry. 'Any friend of Mariah's is a friend of mine.'

Sap, Grey thought, wondering what Mariah saw in the other man. A marriage proposal? He shuddered at the thought.

'You wouldn't mind if I stole Mariah for a few moments for a quick dance, do you?' Grey asked pleasantly, making it difficult for the other man to refuse without making him look like a jealous lover. 'To catch up on old times?'

A tight smile claimed Richard's lips. 'I suppose I could let her out of my sight for one short dance.'

Don't count on it, buddy. 'I'll bring her back just the way you gave her to me.'

Grey led a silent and obviously fuming Mariah to the crowded dance floor. A slow song played and he pulled her unyielding body into his arms, relishing the feel of her soft, lush curves pressed against him and the heady scent of her perfume.

She wouldn't look at him, and he noted the tight, angry line of her jaw. 'You didn't think you were going to get away with not dancing with me, did you?' He tried to inject a teasing note into his voice.

She met his gaze, her blue eyes glacial. 'In case you didn't notice, I'm here with someone else.'

Instinctively he tightened his arm around her waist, 'Oh, I noticed all right.' Disdain coated his words.

'But that didn't stop you from pulling that macho act with Richard.'

He didn't think she'd appreciate him reminding her of the relief on her face when he'd interrupted their little interlude.

As they continued to sway to the music, the tension gradually drained from her body, allowing her to lean more naturally into Grey. 'I came to this party with Richard. I shouldn't be dancing with other men.' She sounded as though she were trying to convince herself of that fact.

'Mr. GQ doesn't seem to be too lonely without you.' He glanced to the right, and Mariah's gaze followed his. The aggressive woman who'd been Grey's dinner companion was now busy working on Richard, who didn't seem to mind the obvious passes the voluptuous woman was making.

'I can hardly blame him, after what you just pulled,'

Mariah said, shifting her gaze back to Grey's. Confusing emotions brightened her eyes. 'When did you become so callous?'

'I'm a desperate man,' he said softly, truthfully. 'When did your taste in men take a drastic turn for the worse?'

She bristled and tried to put some distance between their bodies but he refused to loosen his hold. 'Who I date is no longer any of your concern.'

'Is Richard marriage material?'

Hurt flashed in her eyes, cutting him deeper than he thought possible. 'More so than you'll ever be.'

He deserved that, he thought, but he didn't like it. The melody ended and segued into a fast song. When Mariah pushed slightly at his shoulders, he let her slip from his grasp and watched her walk away, spine straight and head held high. His gaze dropped to the way her dress outlined her bottom, and a surge of heat flared deep in his belly. Any sane man would cut his losses and move on. His sanity had fled the night she'd gathered up her clothes and left him.

Mariah moved through the throng of guests and made her way out the double French doors leading to a wide veranda that overlooked a garden and elaborate fountain. Finding a secluded, shadowed spot away from the other couples enjoying the sultry evening, she leaned against the cool metal railing and drew a deep breath.

She couldn't stop trembling and it was all Grey's fault. She was furious with him for his behavior. And disturbed that he still had the ability to arouse her so quickly and easily. Dragging her fingers through her hair, she tried to dismiss the way her body still throbbed from the pure torture of being pressed against Grey's.

'So, have you and the lawyer slept together?'

She jumped at the deep voice behind her, not surprised that Grey had sought her out. The man didn't handle